Game apparatus



GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS James M. Prentice, South Hadley, Mass.

Application September 12, 1945, Serial No. 615,755

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-118) This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to improvements in game apparatus which is characterized by a game board having a plurality of electric lights having in combination with circuit closing means operable accordingly as a playing piece is engaged thereby.

The novel features of the invention include a board which may be ornamented to simulate a base-ball diamond, foot-ball field, tennis court or whatever may be desired. A guideway which is traversed by a playing piece has circuit closing means associated therewith and accordingly as the circuit closing means is operated in conjunction with the playing piece one or more lights are energized and may be taken as plays or results of plays according to the rules of the game.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game board apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the circuit closing means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevational views on the lines 33 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A game board is represented by 2 which includes a frame 4 and upper and lower panels 6 and 8 secured together in any well known manner. The face of the upper panel may be provided with ornamentation in simulation of a game area such as a base-ball diamond, foot-ball field or the like. plurality of electric lights ID are provided which may be disposed as desired or according to the playing space of the game which the panel is to carry. Indicia may be applied to the panel which will be appropriate to the particular game.

Longitudinally extending guide members 14 and of wood or the like are disposed between the panels and are fixed in spaced relation to provide a guideway l6 therebetween. Entrance and outlet openings 18 and 20 at the upper and 2 lower sides of the board extend through the upper panel into the guideway.

A playing piece which is preferably in the form of a metal ball 22 is provided and in the play of the game said playing piece is dropped into the entrance opening i8 so that it rolls down the guideway 16 and it may be retrieved through the outlet 20.

The board is preferably tilted or inclined from the entrance It to the outlet 2%) so that the playing piece will traverse the guideway. This may be accomplished by tilting the board in any well known manner.

A plurality of contacts 24 are secured to the member l4. These contacts 24 are connected by wires 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 to one side of the lights ill. Opposite sides of the lights are connected by 36, 38 and dB to one terminal of a battery 42 and the other battery terminal is connected by 43 to strap 62.

A peep opening ll is provided in the upper panel and into the guideway so that a player may observe the ball as it rolls therepast.

A contactor 44 of metal is provided which has downwardly extending legs 45 at opposite longitudinal edges that are slidable in grooves 48 disposed transversely of the guide member IS. A downwardly extending lip 53 is provided at the inner side of the contactor 44 and a lip 52 extends downwardly at its outer side.

A tab 54 extends upwardly from the contactor 44 through an opening 55 in the upper panel and a spring 58 in a socket 69 provided in the member I6 urges the contactor inwardly or forwardly towards the contacts 24. A strap 62 overlies the contactor 44 and has opposite ends secured to member [6, as shown.

A trigger member 64 of resilient metal has its inner end secured to the member I6 by any suitable means, such as a screw 66 or the like. A projection 68 on the upper side of the member '64 is adapted to lie behind the lip 52 of the contactor M and a manually engageable tab part 10 extends upwardly from the said trigger through an opening 12.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the tab 10 may be depressed so that the projection 58 is depressed whereby the spring 58 moves the contactor towards the contacts 24. By engaging the tab 54 of the contactor said contactor may be moved outwardly away from contacts 24 so that it is held in cocked position by the trigger against the action of spring 58.

As stated, the upper panel may carry such ornamentation and indicia as may be desired and a set of rules may be adapted for the play of a game.

In the operation of the apparatus the playing ball 22 is dropped into the opening [8 so that said ball will roll down the guideway 16. The player grasps the tab 10 for depressing the trigger to release the contactor for engaging the ball between the lip 50 of the contactor and one or more of the contacts 24. The ball is visible to the player through the peep hole I l. The player may desire to make contact through the ball and that contact which will energize that light or lights which, according to the indicia on the panel and rules of the game, will be most favorable.

Should the contactor be released before the ball reaches the first of the contacts 24 none of the lights will be energized and likewise should the ball pass all of the contacts before the contactor is released none of the lights will be energized.

There may be stop means to prevent the contactor 44 engaging the contacts 24 so that no circuit will be established except through the ball and the connections may be such that the ball may engage the contactor and adjacent contacts, as well as one contact, for energizing a light or lights.

A contact 16 is carried by the member which will be engaged when the contactor is released without the ball being between it and the contacts 24. This may be connected to one of the lights as by connection 18.

The contactor and contacts may be placed as desired relative to the peep opening and there may be as many contacts as may be desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not asbeing restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board including spaced upper and lower panels; longitudinally extending spaced guide members forming a guideway therebetween for a-playing piece, a playing, piece in the form of a metal ball, said upper panel provided with entrance and outlet openings leading. into the guideway adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plurality of lights, a plurality of contacts spaced along one of said guide members in said guideway, a-manually engageable contactor movably mounted on the other uide member and towards and away from'sa'id contacts'for engaging said playing piece between it and one of said contacts for completing a circuit, and circuit means for connecting said contacts, lights and contactor to a source" of energy.

2'. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board including spaced upper and lower panels, longitudinally extending spaced guide members between said panels forming a guideway between said panels, said upper panel provided with entrance and' exit openings at opposite ends of the guideway and a peep opening intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with said guideway, a playing piece in the form of a metal ball, a plurality of lights, a plurality of spaced contact on one of said guide members in said guideway, a manually engageable contactor slidably mounted on the other guide member having a part depending in said guideway for engaging said playing piece between it and any one of said contacts for establishing an electric circuit, and circuit connections between said lights, contacts and contactor for conhosting the same to a source of energy.

3. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board including spaced upper and lower panels, longitudinally extending spaced guide members between said panels forming a guideway between said panels, said upper panel provided with entrance and exit openings at opposite ends of the guideway and a peep opening intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with said guideway, a playing piece in the form of a metal ball, a plurality of lights, a plurality of spaced contacts on one of said guide members in said guideway, a contactor sl-idably mounted on the other guide member having a part, depending in said guideway for engaging said playing piece between it and any one of said contacts for establishing an electric circuit, and circuit connections between said lights, contacts and contactor for connecting the same to a source of energy, said upper panel provided with an opening and said contactor provided with a manually engag'eable part extending therethrough.

4. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board including spaced upper and lower panels, longitudinally extending spaced guide members between said panels forming a guideway between said panels, said upper panel provided with entrance and exit openings at opposite ends of the guideway and a peep opening intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with said guideway, a playing piece in the form of a metal ball, a plurality of lights, a plurality of spaced contacts on one of said guide members in said guideway, a contactor slidably mountedon' the other guide member having a part depending in said guideway for engaging said playing piece between it and any one of said contacts for establishing an electric circuit, and circuit connections between said lights, contacts and contactor for connecting the same to a source of energy, said upper panel provided with an opening and said contactor provided with a manually engageable part extending therethrough, and spring means urging said contactor inwardly of the guideway and towards said contacts.

5. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board includingv spaced upper and lower panels, longitudinally extending spaced guide members between said panels forming a guideway" between said panels, said upper panel provided with entrance and exit openings at opposite ends of the guideway and apeep open"- ing intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with said guideway, a playing piece in the form of a metal ball, a plurality of lights; a plurality of spaced contacts on one of said guide members in said guideway, a contactor slidably mounted on the other guide member having a part depending in said guideway for engaging said playing piece between it and any one of said contacts for establishing an electric circuit, circuit connections between said lights, contacts and contactor for connecting the same to a source of energy, said upper panel provided with an opening and said contactor provided with a manually engageable part extending therethrough, spring means urging said contactor inwardly of the guideway and towards said contacts, and trigger means engageable with said contactor for holding it against said spring means and away from said contacts.

6. A game apparatus comprising in combination, a game board including spaced upper and lower panels, longitudinally extending spaced guide members between said panels forming a guideway between said panels, said upper panel provided with entrance and exit openings at opposite ends of the guideway and a peep opening intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with said guideway, a playing piece in the form of a metal ball, a plurality of lights, a plurality of spaced contacts on one of said guide members in said guideway, a contactor slidably mounted on the other guide member having a part depending in said guideway for engaging said playing piece between it and any one of said contacts for establishing an electric circuit, cir- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,177,725 Koci Oct. 31, 1939 2,237,122 Swan Apr. 1, 1941 

